Until
the late 1880s, 15% of the Irish emigrants to Argentina were from
Wexford. They came from an area 'south-east of a line from Wexford
Town to Kilmore Quay' [Kirby 1992: 105].

In
1827, the Liverpool bank of Dickson & Montgomery appointed Patrick
Browne (1806-1893) from Wexford, to be their representative in Buenos
Aires. 'Patrick quickly realized that he would make his fortune
in the salt beef business rather than as a bank manager and began
his own business soon after his arrival. He sent back to Forth and
Bargy for labour to work first in his salting houses, for usually
about a year, and then to herd sheep on a shares basis for him.
Thus emigration from Wexford began mainly from commercial contact
between Wexford, Liverpool, and the River Plate' [McKenna 1994:
96].